AquaHold for a phase separation

1. AquaHold for a phase separation in comparison with traditional techniques

2. The traditional way The phase separation is done with a geo-textile on which gravel is loaded. The good soil is employed on the gravel. The gaps within the gravel prevent a capillary interaction between the top soil and the underground with a salt load in deeper sections.

3. With each irrigation the soil is watered and is soaked with water. The water flows through the fine capillaries towards the gravel.

4. The water washes fine soil particles into the gaps of the gravel.

5. The gaps of the gravel are filled up after various irrigation tasks with fine soil particles. Herewith the function of the gaps are gone. Capillary bridges are build up !

6. The water flows into the deeper section of the soil.

7. Now the water gets contact with the salty section of the deeper ground. The salt load climbs up by being solved in the deep reaching water.

8. Very soon after some irrigation‘s the salt reaches the geo-textile

9. Via the capillary bridges the barrier get past. Salt is now climbing up into the good soil.

10. And depending from the irrigation quantity and frequency it is just a question of time, when the total soil is spoiled.

11. Plants are dying !

12. Salt is all over, the ground is dead ! Only a total exchange of the soil and the separation layers can change the situation. But just for the next some month‘s and everything starts again and again !

13. The solution out of the dilemma AquaHold sandwich as triple layer will help ! • AquaHold is breathable but water repellent • Defined spacers keeping the capillary disconnection alive. • The ground layer prevents the filling of the spaces from below. Patent pending !

14. How AquaHold works Irrigation water sinks down to the AquaHold geo-textile, but can‘t penetrate due to the low surface tension and the water repellent property of Aquahold. No water loss and no filling up of the spacer !

15. In the case of an over-irrigation • The porosity of both layers of AquaHold is different • With a water column of about 5cm, AquaHold becomes water-transparent • The water carries also soil particles into the spacer section, but the can also penetrate to lower layer • Out of this reason the spacer section is not filled up • The phase separation remains permanent !

16. AquaHold‘s unique capability • Just the Solaflon coated geo-textile AquaHold showsthe necessary features: • high water repellence due to the micro coating • pervious to air • excellent stability due to micro fluoropolymer coating

17. The features in detail: • The water repellence of AquaHold prevents the water penetration under normal irrigation conditions, but saves the water for the plants • Because AquaHold is pervious to air all anaerobic processes will be avoided and the decay of the roots can‘t occur • AquaSoil is just water repellent, but not water tight. That allows the flooding with water to give the opportunity to the irrigation salt out of the soil without destroying the spacer function • Due to the micro-coating with Solaflon as fluoropolymer the PP felt of AquaHold textile remains stable under any condition • The right design of the layers, textiles and spacer, guaranties the long lasting property as phase seperator

18. Newest research results • To optimise the hydrophobic feature of AquaHold as sandwich structure, a layer of white peat ( no peat moss or coconut peat ) should be applied on the upper geo-textile to avoid the contact from the topsoil to the AquaHold felt.  • Because a good soil like AquaSoil contains a high portion of super absorbent, which is hydrophilic, the contact to the special geo-textile could partly inhibit the function. That means materials with two antithetical surface tensions should be separated, what is realised with the white peat layer. The first time exists a defined level to detect the surplus of water. Sensors or pairs of metallic conductors should be employed on the upper AquaHold felt.If the irrigation water will reach these sensors, the electrical resistance between the conductors drops down, what can be used as signal to switch of the irrigation.

19. Gold medal for AquaHold

20. Thank you very much for your kind attention ! G4 / AquaSoil department Riad Hassi – Prof. G.K. Brueck